EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JULY 14, 2021.

SUBJECT: THE GREAT COMMISSION!

Memory verse:  "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16 vs 15.) 

READ: Matthew 28 vs 18 - 20; Luke 24 vs 47:

Matthew 28:18: And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has  been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

28:19: Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 

28:20: teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Like 24:47: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

INTIMATION:

After haven done this great and supreme sacrifice, that had never been done, and would ever be done by any again, Jesus made a request on His followers—His disciples; to go into all the world, telling everyone “the Good News,” that He had paid the penalty for our sins and those who believe in Him can be forgiven and live eternally with God. They should preach the suffering Christ on the cross and His resurrection. Repentance toward God and God’s remission of man’s sins in obedience to the gospel should be proclaimed to all men beginning from Jerusalem. 

All the four records of the gospel mention a commission that Jesus gives to the disciples to take the good news to the world (Matthew 28 vs 19 - 20; Mark 16 vs 15; Luke 24 vs 46 - 47; John 20 vs 12 - 23). Studied together, Jesus commissioned the disciples to (1) preach Jesus in order to make disciples for Jesus, (2) preach the gospel of His death for our sins and resurrection for our hope in order that men might be saved, (3) immerse disciples in water, and (4) teach the word of Jesus to immersed disciples. They were to immerse all those they had discipled to Him. Therefore, one must be committed to follow Jesus before being immersed into a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Jesus made it clear to the disciples that the gospel is for all the world, not just for the Jews (John 10 vs 16). They must go to every village, town and city of the world. No community must be left untouched by the proclamation of the gospel. The statement of Jesus in our anchor Scripture designates what is to be done (preach), what is to be preached (the gospel), and to whom the preaching must go (every creature). The gospel is the good news of Jesus’ death for our sins and resurrection for our hope. This is what must be proclaimed to all the world. The gospel must be preached to every person because every person is a sinner (Romans 3 vs 9 - 10). 

We, as followers of Jesus, are commissioned to spread the “Good News,” and this is the “Great Commission!” Christians today in all parts of the world are telling this gospel to people who haven’t heard about Jesus. We should do this in response to the supreme sacrifice He made for us out of love, and we should return this love by obeying His command (John 14 vs 15).

The driving power that carries missionaries around the world and sets Christ’s church in motion is the faith that comes from the resurrection. Do you ever feel as though you don’t have the skill or determination to be a witness for Christ? You must personally realize that Jesus rose from the dead and lives for you today. As you grow in your relationship with Christ, He will give you both the opportunities and the inner strength to tell His message. 

This is the only request Jesus made on us after had made the aforesaid sacrifices for us. He sacrificed His life (something of immeasurable value) for something completely worthless (our sins). What a sacrifice! He has not left us alone in this service, but promised to be with us always, even up to the end of age, and has accomplished this in the Person of the Holy Spirit—Jesus in Spirit form, indwelling us.

Therefore, haven all these done for us, and all these promises made to us m, what excuse do one have not to engage in witnessing for Jesus? Not doing this is, in my considered opinion, gross disobedience, denying the Savior before men, and consequently, the Savior’s denying you before His Father in heaven!  For Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10 vs 32.) Do you want Jesus to witness for you before the Father in heaven? Then engage in the “Great Commission;” witnessing for Christ here and now. 

Prayer: Abba Father, there is nothing I can do to adequately compensate for what You did for me in redemption? Virtually nothing! My not obeying You in carrying out the “Great Commission” is not just disobedience to You, but also wickedness, and selfishness on my part. May I live to obey You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!